After starting the day with a four-shot advantage, Penge looked in control for much of the final round before Brown launched a spirited comeback, carding a four-under 67 despite battling shoulder and neck pain that required on-course treatment. The 29-year-old forced extra holes with a clutch birdie at the 18th, capping a gutsy effort that drew admiration from players and fans alike.

When the pair returned to the 18th tee for the playoff, it was Penge who steadied first. The Englishman found the fairway, played safely to the middle of the green and rolled in a 10-foot birdie putt to seal the win, his third in just six months after earlier triumphs in China and Denmark.

“It was a strange day,” Penge said afterwards. “Dan and Joel both played great and kept the pressure on me. I felt I managed myself really well, even when things weren’t going my way.”

The victory lifts Penge into rare company on the DP World Tour and earns him automatic invitations to both The Masters and The Open Championship in 2026 – remarkable rewards for a player who has rebuilt his career from the Challenge Tour only a year ago.

Brown’s runner-up finish was a story of resilience. After receiving treatment mid-round, he refused to fade, producing birdies at 15 and 18 to keep the tournament alive. “He was fighting all the way,” Penge said of his fellow Englishman. “It was a great battle.”